EVERTON were today expected to complete a deal for highly-rated Portuguese midfielder Francisco Santos Silva Júnior.
The 20-year-old, who is out of contract after spells with Benfica and Manchester City, will join on a free transfer after Goodison officials solved some final red-tape issues.
Silva Junior, a right-footed defensive midfielder, left the Portuguese giants to join City’s elite development squad last year, but was unable to break into Roberto Mancini’s expensively assembled first-team squad.
However, he impressed in a series of friendlies and academy games for the Etihad club, and Moyes has been monitoring the player’s progress since learning he was to become a free agent.
If all goes to plan, the Guinea-Bissau- born midfielder will link up with the Blues first team squad and add extra depth to a midfield which loses the services of USA international Landon Donovan after next Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round tie with Blackpool at Goodison.
